Aircraft lavatory trash compactor

Abstract

An aircraft lavatory trash compactor includes a water source, a valve actuator connected to the water source, a trash can disposed below the valve actuator, and a controller configured to activate the valve actuator to spray water into the trash can.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An aircraft lavatory trash compactor, comprising:
 a water source; 
 a valve actuator connected to the water source; 
 a trash can disposed below the valve actuator; 
 a door switch configured to provide an indication of occupancy of an aircraft lavatory to passengers; and 
 a controller connected to the door switch, wherein the controller is configured to receive inputs from the door switch to determine an occupancy of the aircraft lavatory, activate the valve actuator to spray water into the trash can, and to deactivate the valve actuator in response to the aircraft lavatory being occupied. 
 
     
     
       2. The aircraft lavatory trash compactor of  claim 1 , wherein the controller activates the valve actuator to be open for a period of time. 
     
     
       3. The aircraft lavatory trash compactor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor configured to read a level of trash in the trash can; and 
 a display to indicate the level of trash in the trash can. 
 
     
     
       4. The aircraft lavatory trash compactor of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the level of trash in the trash can based on the sensor and update the display based on the determined level of trash. 
     
     
       5. The aircraft lavatory trash compactor of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate the valve actuator in response to the level of trash in the trash can exceeding a threshold. 
     
     
       6. The aircraft lavatory trash compactor of  claim 1 , wherein the water source comprises:
 a fresh water source; 
 a used water source; and 
 a water valve connected to the fresh water source, the used water source, and the valve actuator, the water valve including a check valve to prevent backflow of the used water source into the fresh water source. 
 
     
     
       7. The aircraft lavatory trash compactor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a valve controller configured to receive an instruction from the controller and activate the valve actuator in response to receiving the instruction. 
 
     
     
       8. The aircraft lavatory trash compactor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power supply configured to power the controller and the valve actuator.